He is examining whether they deserve “special attention” for acceptance on refugee or humanitarian grounds, which led to South Africa hauling in Australia’s envoy to Pretoria for a dressing down and a demand that he retract the comments.

It also set off claims at home that Dutton was a racist amid fears that it signalled a return to the “White Australia” policy, referring to laws in place for seven decades from 1901 that prevented non-white immigrants settling Down Under.

Dutton, who has drawn criticism in the past for cracking down on asylum-seekers from Asia and the Middle East, is unfazed.

He insisted he was blind to skin colour and would bring in migrants based on national interest.

“It concerns me that people are being persecuted at the moment – that’s the reality – the numbers of people dying or being savagely attacked in South Africa is a reality,” he told 2GB commercial radio.

“We’re looking at ways we can help people to migrate to Australia if they’re finding themselves in that situation.”

He said the backlash “meant nothing to me”, while attacking several media outlets for their coverage.

“Some of the crazy lefties at the ABC, and on The Guardian, Huffington Post, can express concern and draw mean cartoons about me and all the rest of it,” he said.